Lyric discussion by vchamberlain 

Cover art for From A Whisper To A Scream lyrics by Elvis Costello

If you're puzzled by the line "the one over the eight seems less like one and more like four," I can explain.

"The one over the eight" is British slang for one too many beers. The idea is that eight beers is enough to get you sufficiently soused. The "one over the eight" is the one that turns you into a falling-down, blackout drunk.

So Elvis (or in this case, Glenn Tilbrook, who sings the line) is saying that it doesn't feel like he's had just one over the eight, he's so drunk it feels like it's been four too many.

@vchamberlain Thank you!! That one's puzzled me for 30 years.